ANNUAL REPORT 2019 latrobe.edu.au Contents 2 Letters of transmittal 3 Message from the Chancellor 3 Message from the Vice-Chancellor 4 La Trobe at a glance 5 e Our cor objectives 6 Our strategy 7 A University City of the Future 8 Outstanding student experience 10 Research excellence 12 An unrivalled partner of choice 13 Responsibilities of senior officers 14 Organisational chart 14 University Council membership 16 Operating framework 18 Key statistics 19 Workforce disclosures 20 Human resources 21 Risk management 22 Sustainability reporting 25 Risk management statement 26 External reporting obligations 30 Financial review 34 University disclosure index table 37 Financial Statements Letters of transmittal Mailing address La Trobe University Victoria 3086 Australia T +61 3 9479 5268 F +61 3 9479 1045 OFFICE OF THE CHANCELLOR E [email protected] latrobe.edu.au MELBOURNE CAMPUSES Bundoora Collins Street CBD Franklin Street CBD REGIONAL CAMPUSES Bendigo Albury-Wodonga Mildura Shepparton 17 April 2020 Minister for Training and Skills 2 Treasury Place East Melbourne VIC 3002 Dear Minister In accordance with the applicable requirements of regulations under the Financial Management Act 1994, the Directions, the Financial Reporting Directions and Australian Accounting Standards, I am pleased to submit for your information and presentation to Parliament the La Trobe University Annual Report for the year ending 31 December 2019. Yours sincerely The Hon John Brumby AO Chancellor ABN 64 804 735 113 CRICOS Provider 00115M 2 | La Trobe University Messages Message from the Chancellor Message from the Vice-Chancellor Following my installation as Chancellor of 2019 was a year in which La Trobe University La Trobe University in March 2019, the year continued successfully to pursue its mission has been an important one for the University of combining accessibility with excellence. which has consolidated its position in This was exemplified by the establishment of the global higher education rankings and the La Trobe Student Excellence Academy, performed well in the award of national which demonstrates the extraordinary breadth research grants. I would like to take this of interests, skills and abilities amongst opportunity to thank the outgoing Chancellor our student community. In recognising and Professor Richard Larkins AC for his rewarding such diverse forms of achievement, outstanding leadership and stewardship the Academy illustrates very clearly the of the Council over the past two years. La Trobe vision of inclusive excellence. Many magnificent new facilities have been, or are in the process of being, 2019 will also be remembered as a time when the University became more developed across all the campuses, from the development of the new outward-looking in its work. We expanded the scale of our partnership activity La Trobe Sports Park at the Bundoora campus to the state of the art Bendigo with industry leaders including The Australian Ballet, State Library of Victoria, Engineering & Technology Building. The innovative “hybrid secondary school/ Islamic Museum of Australia and Cisco, and we established new partnerships University Year 9 campus experience” for students from Ivanhoe Grammar with organisations including Medibank and the National Australia Bank. was launched, offering students a 12 month taste of University learning that We welcomed new partners to the Research and Innovation Precinct on will engage, challenge and prepare them for adult life. the Melbourne campus, which is an essential part of our plans to develop a During the year La Trobe announced that it will become Victoria’s first zero- $5 billion University City of the Future over the next 10 years. The precinct emissions University, committed to making real change for long term benefit. promises to become a hub for research and innovation, stimulating the local The University will harness all of its research and technology expertise to economy and creating employment growth throughout Melbourne’s north. reduce emissions across all campuses and monitor energy consumption in There were many other achievements during the year, including consolidation up to 50 smart buildings, making adjustments to heating, lighting and cooling of our excellent position in the global University rankings. We achieved our in real time to reduce energy consumption highest position in a decade in the prestigious Times Higher Education World Regional prosperity and opportunity are fundamental to a healthy, well- University Rankings – placing 291 in the world. We also performed well in functioning society and La Trobe University’s regional footprint is crucial. earning our share of national research grants, especially those administered The University provided support to many regional students, who might by the Australian Research Council and grants allocated for health not otherwise be able to attend University and the announcement of and medical research. For the first time the University raised more than 94 Destination Scholarships in 2019 for both domestic and international $10 million in philanthropic donations in a single year: $16 million was raised students will directly contribute to productivity, skills development and in 2019 to support research, scholarships and pathways programs. stimulate local economies. During 2019 we recruited the first students into our unique end-to-end rural I was extremely privileged to officiate at the award ceremony for an medical training program, delivered in partnership with the University of Honorary Degree to one of the world’s biggest movie stars Shah Rukh Khan Melbourne. We launched new cross-disciplinary courses including Australia’s in recognition of his work and women’s rights advocacy, with a substantial first Bachelor of Humanities, Innovation and Technology, and the Master new PhD Scholarship announced in his name for a female student from India. of Internet of Things offered at our Bendigo campus. We launched a major institutional strategy, Clever Learning, that will transform the La Trobe In November the University awarded its Distinguished Alumni Awards, Educational offer over the next few years. recognising the achievements of our exceptional alumni and their contributions as innovators and leaders, including two-time Walkley Award 2019 was also a successful year for the University’s Ideas and Society Program winner and host of ABC Melbourne Mornings, Virginia Trioli; Australian Rural and the Bold Thinking lecture series, which continue the great La Trobe Women’s Movement pioneer, Alana Johnson; renowned Australian genetic tradition of public scholarship. The La Trobe University Press, our publishing epidemiologist Professor John Hopper AM; food rescue and food waste partnership with Black Inc., continued to attract authors of the highest calibre reduction advocate, Simone Carson AM and Young Achiever Award winners and publish books of high intellectual quality, substance and originality. AFLW player Daisy Pearce and surgical resident Dr Batool Albatat. The Press has published some of the key voices in the unfolding debate about Australia’s role in China, and in 2019 published Hugh White’s How to Defend At the end of the year we farewelled the longest serving member of the Australia. In 2019 we also published Ross Garnaut’s road map for Australia to Council Deputy Chancellor Mr Andrew Eddy, who first joined the Council in become a leader in low-carbon energy, Superpower: Australia's Low-Carbon 2010 and over his lengthy tenure has consistently provided highly valued Opportunity, which has already become one of the most influential books in advice and support to the Council and senior management of the University. helping our nation formulate its response to climate change. I thank all members of the Council, the university staff and the many partners While we had many achievements in 2019, the La Trobe community was and stakeholders for their contribution to the University’s success. also struck by tragedy early in the year with the death of our student Aiia The Council looks forward to the University building on the many Maasarwe. All members of our community were deeply moved by this achievements and initiatives put in place throughout 2019. tragedy but were able to find some comfort in the way that staff and students came together with members of the local community to share their grief. Our students were incredibly impressive in organising a vigil on campus, and our staff were extraordinarily professional in managing the University’s response to the many complex issues that this terrible incident raised. We were also very pleased to join with the Victorian Government to establish The Hon John Brumby AO a scholarship in perpetuity in honour of Aiia. Chancellor La Trobe University The progress we made this year was only possible because of the dedication of our staff, who worked tirelessly to ensure that La Trobe remains relevant to, and is valued by, its communities. Our people are what give our great University community its distinctive character and ethos. We have many significant achievements of which to be proud, and the following pages contain information about many highlights of a very productive year. Professor John Dewar AO Vice-Chancellor and President La Trobe University Annual Report 2019 | 3 La Trobe at a glance Vision and aspiration Our values Quick facts Since its foundation in 1964, La Trobe Our early reputation as a radical and • Established in 1964 University has sought to be different. challenging institution continues to influence • First enrolments in 1967: 558 We were created to broaden participation the way we enrich the experience of our • Student load (EFTSL) in 2019 in higher education among communities in students and engage with our partners (provisional) is 29,036.6 Melbourne’s north and regional Victoria. and communities. We were founded half • Staff (full time equivalent) in 2019 a century ago to broaden participation in We have joined this mission with that (provisional) 3,338.3 higher education in Melbourne’s north of pursuing world class research that • More than 210,000 Alumni and, later, in regional Victoria.